[SOLVED] nginx server error: 413 Request Entity Too Large

The Nginx web server has a max. body size limit of 1 MB for requests as default. This might be too low for file uploads in scripts and you will see the following error message when you try to upload a file:

413 Request Entity Too Large

The configuration variable for this option is "client_max_body_size" and it can be set in the HTTP, server, and location sections of the Nginx configuration file. To set the Limit globally to 25 MB, edit the nginx.conf file and add:

client_max_body_size 20M;

In the HTTP section.

Example for Ubuntu Linux:

user www-data;
worker_processes 4;
pid /var/run/nginx.pid;

events {
        worker_connections 768;
        # multi_accept on;
}

http {
        geoip_country  /etc/nginx/geoip/GeoIP.dat; # the country IP database
        geoip_city     /etc/nginx/geoip/GeoLiteCity.dat; # the city IP database
        ##
        # Basic Settings
        ##

        sendfile on;
        tcp_nopush on;
        tcp_nodelay on;
        keepalive_timeout 65;
        types_hash_max_size 2048;
        client_max_body_size 20M;

        include /etc/nginx/mime.types;
        default_type application/octet-stream;

        ##
        # Logging Settings
        ##

        access_log /var/log/nginx/access.log;
        error_log /var/log/nginx/error.log;

        ##
        # Gzip Settings
        ##

        gzip on;
        gzip_disable "msie6";

        ##
        # Virtual Host Configs
        ##

        include /etc/nginx/conf.d/*.conf;
        include /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/*;
}

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the NGINX error "413 Request Entity Too Large" mean?

This error occurs when a client request to the NGINX server contains a data payload (like a file upload) that exceeds the server's configured size limit. NGINX rejects the request to prevent excessive resource usage.

How do I resolve the "413 Request Entity Too Large" error in NGINX?

To resolve this error, you need to increase the size limit for client requests in the NGINX configuration. This is done by adjusting the client_max_body_size directive in the NGINX configuration file (usually located in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf or within a server block).

What is a recommended value for client_max_body_size to avoid this error?

The recommended value for client_max_body_size depends on your specific needs. If you're expecting large file uploads, you might set this to a higher value, like 50M or 100M. A value between 1M and 10M is often sufficient for general use.

Will changing client_max_body_size affect server performance?

Increasing client_max_body_size can impact server performance, especially if set to a very high value. This is because larger requests require more memory and bandwidth. It's important to find a balance based on your server's capabilities and your application's needs.

How do I reload the NGINX configuration after changing client_max_body_size?

After modifying the NGINX configuration file, you need to reload the server for changes to take effect. This can be done by running the command:

sudo nginx -s reload

Can the "413 Request Entity Too Large" error be caused by client-side issues?

Generally, this error is caused by the server configuration. However, if the client is trying to send a file that exceeds the server's limit, it could be considered a client-side issue. Clients should be aware of the server's upload limits.

Is it possible to customize the error page for the "413 Request Entity Too Large" error?

You can customize the error page by creating a custom HTML page and configuring NGINX to use it for 413 errors using the error_page directive in your configuration.

Will increasing the client_max_body_size affect other settings in NGINX?

Increasing client_max_body_size should not directly affect other NGINX settings. However, it's important to ensure that your server has enough resources to handle larger requests.

Can this error occur in reverse proxies or load balancers?

If NGINX is used as a reverse proxy or load balancer, this error can occur if the proxied requests exceed the configured body size limit. Adjusting `client_max_body_size` in the proxy settings is necessary in these cases.

How do I check the current value of  client_max_body_size in my NGINX configuration?

You can check the current value of client_max_body_size by inspecting your NGINX configuration files. It could be set in the main nginx.conf file, within an HTTP, server, or location block, or in separate configuration files included in your main configuration. Use a text editor or command line tools like grep to search for client_max_body_size in your NGINX configuration directory.